November 4, 2015 Albert Lea Post Authority Minutes

By Tyler Golberg | November 4, 2015

November 4, 2015

ALBERT LEA PORT AUTHORITY

MINUTES

November 4, 2015 – 7:30 a.m.

Regular Meeting

Albert Lea Business Development Center

 

1. CALL TO ORDER & NOTATION OF ROLL

  • The Regular Meeting of the Albert Lea Port Authority was called to order on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. by President Kehr. Roll was noted by the Board Secretary.
  • COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vern Rasmussen, Jr., Mike Moore, Ellen Kehr, Al Brooks, and Mark Heinemann
  • COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Ginny Larson and Nate Jansen
  • EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea representative; Randy Kehr, business community representative; Mike Lee, Freeborn County representative
  • EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
  • STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Ryan Nolander, Executive Director and Julie Dandrea, Board Secretary
  • STAFF MEMBERS ABSENT: None
  • GUESTS: Bryan Skogheim – Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 7, 2015 MEETING

  • The minutes from the October 7, 2015 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Brooks President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 4 in favor; 0 opposed. Commissioner Heinemann abstained from the vote since he was absent.

 

3. RESOLUTION PA-15-22 AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

  • The claims were presented for review. Noted were the Enderes demolition and soil testing payments. The demolition project will come in under budget. Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the claims as presented in the amount of $50,781.10, seconded by Commissioner Heinemann. President Kehr asked for any discussion and hearing none, the motion carried 5 in favor; 0 opposed.

 

4. RESOLUTION PA-15-23 APPROVE SPEC BLDG. LOAN MODIFICATION

  • Executive Director Nolander negotiated a lower interest rate floor on the spec building and made the recommendation the loan be modified. Kennedy & Graven authored the resolution and loan modification. The new rate is prime + .50% with a floor of 4.25%. We’ve been paying prime + .50 with floor of 5.50%. Executive Director Nolander recommended the option of keeping the same monthly payment of $11,363.00, which will save $16,500 in interest the first year. The original resolution was done in 2009. President Kehr asked for questions and hearing none, Commissioner Brooks moved to approve Resolution PA-15-23 to modify the loan on the ALEDA spec building as presented. Commissioner Rasmussen seconded and the motion was approved 4 in favor, 0 opposed. Commissioner Heinemann abstained.

 

5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Project Blazingwire update – A knowledgeable contact confirmed C.H. Robinson will construct a data center in Oronoco. An article in the Rochester Post Bulletin reported the Oronoco city council approved a TIF; however, a TIF can’t be used for a data center, unless the property is blighted, etc. The site in Albert Lea may have been used for leverage. It’s been very frustrating since the site selectors haven’t communicated with us.

Northaire regional retention pond update – No response from the rail contact after previously saying they were close to final approval. The city will notify us when they hear something.

South Bldg. #1:

– Streaters moved out of the south Ring space in October.

– Ruby’s Pantry distribution – The Assembly of God Church contacted us again to see if they could use the Ring south space over the winter for their Ruby’s Pantry food distribution. We would offer the same lease as last year and if something comes along they would have to vacate. Commissioner Heinemann made a motion to offer a lease similar to last year’s lease to them. Commissioner Brooks seconded it and it passed 5, in favor; 0 opposed.

– Curb, gutter storm drain repairs – Two storm sewer grates broke apart in the South #1 parking lots that Ventura leases and the curb gets hit when plowing. A driver-over curb is being re-poured and repairs made to the sewer which will be reflected in next month’s claims.

Kleentec Building – The owner of the building stopped by recently to inquire if the Port Authority would be interested in buying the building. Energis has made a deal to continue leasing the next two years. It’s a 26,000 SF building that’s been added onto over the years. We told him we can market it on our website.

SE MN Together workforce gathering recap – Chad Adams, Ellen Kehr, Randy Kehr, Ryan Nolander and 100 people total attended. It was a great event and good working session. The facilitator did a great job getting people moving in round-table discussions. Owatonna and then Winona will be the next sites. Information taken from the gatherings will be compiled and shared regionally. Executive Director Nolander came away with a list of ways to recruit and retain employees. The major takeaways were we need to do a better job marketing our communities, get students and parents introduced to local businesses early in high school, and do a better job of including all populations.

Innovance strategic planning – Innovance invited Executive Director Nolander to take part in their all-day strategic planning session last week. The management from their companies, along with vendors and others were brought together to bring ideas from all perspectives. It was a good experience to go through.

South Broadway ceremony – Many officials including MnDot, Tim Waltz, Peggy Bennett, and others attended last Friday. The Commissioner of MnDOT was highly positive President Kehr said. East Main Street will be done in 2020 and the state officials made note that they need to work with Albert Lea on the flooding issue at that time.

Education Foundation liaison update – Manny Steil realized a survey should be done with high school juniors and seniors about their interest in mentorships. Recently, Agilis set up intern process where students come after school. The high school has requirements for being in the youth apprenticeship program and only a handful are in it currently. The consensus is to make it easier for students to explore opportunities. Maybe open houses could be held where students can go for an afternoon to check out jobs. We will continue to work on this.

 

6. EX-OFFICIO UPDATE

Freeborn County – Mike Lee, Freeborn County Representative

  • Two workshops are coming up to finalize the 2016 budget and tax levy.
  • A City Council/County Commissioner meeting will be held on 12/10/15.
  • Mike Lee attended a senate bonding committee meeting recently and talked to Senator Sparks about local trails and the Stable area sewer issue.

City of Albert Lea – Chad Adams, City of Albert Lea Representative

  • The senate capital investment meeting went well. The Blazing Star site and the Stables sewer issue were discussed. Volunteers had a chance to engage with the committee.
  • Discussions on the watershed tax monies will start in a work session. All parties are not currently on the same page.
  • The first six-plex of market rate units are up and five of the six are full. The sixth one is for showing and there will be an open house to see it. The next six should be done by Dec 1, and the next complex by January. The contractor is planning ahead for a different floorplan for phase two and have bought additional lots. There’s a need for seniors who want to rent single level housing.
  • The Freeborn Bank project did not get awarded tax credits. The project had enough points, but there was less money available. The city council may continue talking with Cohen-Esrey or look at other proposals. Any project would need capital coming from the developer or investors.
  • The small cities application grant for downtown businesses was due. The response was great and more than expected. There are 28 businesses wanting to do rehab. The end result should create a more viability downtown.
  • A proposal for a new strip mall by Wal-Mart has been submitted. A survey and site plan are done. It will be similar to what’s out there now. It might be get in the ground next spring and some tenants have been lined up. This will increase tax base.
  • Chad Adams will attend a meeting in Rochester with the MPCA and the question will be how they plan to fund projects for the mandates they are trying to pass.
  • On 11/14/15, there will be a community growth idea splash exploring ideas on how to grow the community as part of the asset mapping grant through SMIF. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided. At the end of the process, there will be grant money to start working on the ideas chosen.

Chamber of Commerce – Randy Kehr, business community representative

  • At the recent annual meeting, small, medium, and large businesses of the year were named.
  • Kudos to the bonding committee presentation that Chad Adams gave. He did a great job and had all the information.

 

7. COMMISSIONER/OTHER ITEMS – None

 

8. ADJOURNMENT

  • Commissioner Rasmussen made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Moore. The motion carried 5 in favor, 0 opposed. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

 

Filed and attested November 4, 2015.

Posted in Minutes